Inside
u There’s an app for that? P. 3 u Ironmen of Fort P. 6
u UBCM: $ well spent P. 8 u Open for business P. 12
Publications Mail Contract #: 40007759
WEDNESDAY, October 2, 2013
NEWS BRIEFS Geocaching in A new initiative by Backroads Mapbooks and the B.C. government will encourage geocaching at provincial recreation sites and trails. A total of 20 geocaches have been sponsored at sites across the province, but none will be in the Fort St. James area. There are, however, caches stashed near Fraser Lake and near Crystal Lake and another near Tumbler Ridge, all representing the northern region. To find out more about the sport of geocaching and the new initiative, go to: http:// www.geocaching.com/ adventures/geotours/ backroadmapbooks
Takla Property optioned Manado Gold Corp. has entered an option agreement to acquire a 100 per cent interest in five mineral claims called the Takla Property. The mining claims are located in the Omineca Mining Division and are being optioned by CJL Enterprises Ltd. Part of the agreement will require Manado to spend $250,000 in exploration expenditures over the next four years.
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VOL. 36 NO. 31 $1.30 inc. GST
Terry Fox Run
Fort St. James Secondary Students participated in the Terry Fox Run day for schools on Sept. 26. The annual event to raise money for cancer research involved students from all schools in the community at different times throughout the day running or walking “The Loop” to help raise money. Caledonia Courier
Helweg woodlot wins award Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier Joyce and John Helweg of Fort St. James received a regional award for forest stewardship last week. The couple won the award based on their years of managing their own woodlot and the work they have done in education and training for woodlot licensees in the north region. In their application, the Helwegs detailed not only their basic forestry practices, but also their other woodlot-based activities, which include small mill operations and the use of all the wood put through the mill from timbers for homes to using the slabs for firewood to putting the sawdust in the cow birthing yard. Within the woodlot, in addition to the selective logging activities, morel mushrooms were picked, willow was harvested for willow furniture, Christmas trees cut, tours given, duck nesting boxes were put up, hunting has taken place, snowmobiles have utilized the trails, wild berries were harvested, and birch sap has been collected. In addition to the utilization and work going on within the woodlot, the Helwegs have both been very involved in other ways. Joyce Helweg chaired the local woodlot
association meetings and added educational aspects to the meetings. She also assisted the B.C. Woodlot Federation with audits for three years and helped or organized with a number of educational sessions - some for licensees, some for sawmill students of the College of New Caledonia. John Helweg taught milling to others in the community, demonstrating both his band saw mill and Alaskan milling. They have also both continued to educate themselves on different aspects of woodlot management and ecosystem function and management. The couple currently volunteer with Frog Watch, a University of British Columbia research project as well. They report to the researchers on a number of amphibians on their farm and woodlot to help with global warming research. One of the latest projects the couple has been involved with is helping the Scottish Woodlot Association, a newly formed woodlot project just in the early stages. The stewardship award includes $2,500 in funds, which Joyce Helweg said she would like to use to help the couple travel to Scotland to see the work being done there - if her husband agrees, of course.
Drowning in Elliot Lake Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier The body of a 67-year-old fisherman was recovered from Elliot Lake last week. The fisherman had been missing since Sept. 22, when he disappeared from his boat while out fishing by himself. The man had been camping with family, who noticed from shore the man was no longer visible in the boat and went into cell service range to call the RCMP on the Sunday afternoon. Fort St. James Search and Rescue and the RCMP then conducted a search and located the boat, which was floating adrift. They searched for the missing man’s body using underwater cameras and personnel. On Sept. 24 at around 6:15 p.m., the body was found and recovered. Elliot Lake is approximately 150 km north west of Fort St. James off the Leo Creek Forest Service Road. RCMP said there is no criminality involved in the death and the B.C. Coroner Service has taken over the incident.